APS Fellow nominations

Clause 5(b) of the Constitution   

FELLOW - A person who is a Member of the Society pursuant to clause 5(c) (Member), and has satisfied the Board that:

(i) he or she has been engaged in psychological work or study for a period of not less than ten (10) years subsequent to becoming a Member of the Society pursuant toclause 5(c), or in exceptional circumstances subsequent to attaining the qualifications necessary to become a Member of the Society pursuant to clause 5(c); and

(ii) he or she possesses an advanced knowledge of psychology in at least one (1) of its fields; and

(iii) he or she has, in the opinion of the Board, made:

(A) a substantial contribution to the activities of the Society extending over not less than five (5) years in total; and

(B) a substantial and innovative contribution to the advancement of psychological knowledge; and/or

(C) a substantial and innovative contribution to professional psychological practice, whether through his or her own work or by organising and developing the work of others;

and who has been elected as a Fellow in accordance with the Constitution.

Only in exceptional circumstances will a person who has not contributed substantially to the activities of the Society be elected as a Fellow.  

Election to Fellow

The purpose of Fellow of The Australian Psychological Society is to acknowledge the exemplary contribution of a Member to the discipline and/or profession of Psychology and to acknowledge the psychologist's contribution to the advancement of Psychology through the Society itself. Whilst the purpose is to acknowledge the contribution of the psychologist, it is envisaged that Fellows of the Society will actively support and promote the interests of the Society and encourage the development of the discipline and the profession.

Criteria for Fellow

(i) Clause 5(b)(i) of the Constitution. Needs no further elaboration. The nature of this psychological work is defined in Clause 5(b)(ii) and 5(b)(iii).

(ii) Clause 5(b)(ii) of the Constitution. An advanced knowledge of an area of psychology in at least one of its fields could be demonstrated by achievements in at least one or more of the areas listed below:-

(a) further study and publication in an area of psychology, or in areas in which psychology has application;
(b) teaching at under-graduate or post-graduate levels and/or training that contributes to continuing professional development;
(c) experience and practice in an applied field.

(iii) Clause 5(b)(iii) of the Constitution. A substantial contribution to the Society demonstrated by:

(a) active contributions such as editorial work for Society journals, writing submissions for the Society or invited contributions to specific projects; and/or
(b) evidence of leadership at Branch, College, Division, Interest Group, Board of Directors or other national committee level, which might normally be expected to extend over a period of not less than five years in total in the period following election to Membership, subject to election under Clause 5(c).

(iv) Clause 5(b)(iii) (B) and (C) of the Constitution.

A substantial and innovative contribution to the advancement of psychological knowledge; and/or a substantial and innovative contribution to professional psychological practice, whether through his or her own work or by organising and developing the work of others; demonstrated by evidence in at least two of the following:-

(a) excellence in research and its dissemination, by the clear application of the nominee's psychological knowledge to theoretical or applied areas of psychology;
(b) excellence in teaching, supervision or training and innovation in course/professional development in theoretical or applied psychology;
(c) holding positions and undertaking leadership which has substantially encouraged other psychologists

• in their psychological research or practice; and/or
• by administration and leadership e.g., through honours and post-graduate or professional supervision or holding an organisational position which encourages the professional development of others.

(d) representing the profession or science of psychology as an ambassador to other professions or community groups, or in the public arena;
(e) excellence and innovative application of the nominee's expertise in psychology, (for example, rehabilitation, education, health, defence, conservation, therapeutic practice, organizational psychology).

Procedure for Election to Fellow

(i) In the February edition of InPsych the Executive Director will call for nominations of Members for election to Fellow. Nominations for Fellow of the Society will be considered annually unless in special circumstances a majority decision is taken by the Board to have an extraordinary election of Fellows.

(ii) The Standing Orders describing the requirements for Fellow will be included with any invitation for nomination for Fellow sent to Members.

(iii) All nomination forms, covering letters and curriculum vitaes must be received by the Fellow Committee by the close of business on the 30th April each year.

(iv) Nominations will be acknowledged on receipt. Incomplete nominations will be notified of any missing documentation and advised to submit this by 21st June. Incomplete applications after this date will not be considered.

(v) Referees will be requested to provide reference letters by 1st June.

(vi) The Fellow Committee will be appointed by the Board of Directors each year to consider nominations for Fellow of the Society.

(vii) The Fellow Committee will be convened by a Director of the Australian Psychological Society and will consist of the Director and at least three (3) Members of whom at least two (2) will be Honorary Fellows or Fellows of the Society, and who will not be Directors of the Society. The Fellow Committee will be formed with due regard to gender balance, and academic and practitioner balance. Voting members will be the Director and all other members of the Fellow Committee. Members of the Fellow Committee shall not be nominators, proposers or seconders of nominees during their term of membership of the Fellow Advisory Group.

(viii) The Chair of the Fellow Committee will bring the outcome of the Committee's deliberations, including its recommendations, to the Board of Directors who will elect members to Fellows of the Society.

(ix) Brief statements in support of election to Fellow shall be made available to the Board of Directors.

(x) The names of unsuccessful nominees for Election to Fellow will remain confidential within the Board of Directors.

Procedures for Nominees, Nominators, Seconders and Referees

(i) Members must be nominated and seconded by a Fellow or Honorary Fellow with the support of three referees, in accordance with Standing Orders. The nominator and seconder may also act as a referee. The nominator should know the nominee personally, but the seconder may support an application based on information provided by the nominee. All of the parts of Clause 5(b) of the Constitution must be satisfied if a person is to be eligible to be elected to Fellow of the Society. Note the last entry of Clause 5(b) which refers to the requirement that "only in exceptional circumstances will a person who has not contributed substantially to the activities of the Society be elected as a Fellow."

(ii) The nominator will provide a covering letter that explicitly addresses how the nominee meets the criteria for election to Fellow as outlined in 5.6.2.1. The nominator will also obtain a current curriculum vitae from the nominee and the names of three persons each willing to provide a reference for the nominee. The nominator must complete and sign the certification section (Section 2) of the nomination form. The seconder must also complete and sign the certification section (Section 2) of the nomination form.

(iii) The first referee will be a Member, Fellow or an Honorary Fellow of the Society. The second referee will be a Member, Fellow or Honorary Fellow of the Society and will hold or have held office in a unit of The Australian Psychological Society Limited, and be in a position to comment on the nominee's contribution to the Society. The third referee will be an expert on the nominee's field of work (this referee does not necessarily have to be a member of the Society). All referees will know the nominee and the nominee's work well.

(iv) Referees should comment on the nominee's suitability for Fellow, in particular on the significance of the nominee's contribution to the Society and/or the significance of their contribution to the science and/or practice of psychology

(v) The nominator is responsible for ensuring that the nomination form, nominee's curriculum vitae and the names of the three referees are received by the Fellow Committee by 30 April. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted for the current year.

Discretion to Refuse

In absolute discretion and without giving any reason therefore, the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Chair of the Fellow Committee may refuse to admit as Fellow a person whom it shall consider not to be a fit and proper person to be so elected even if the applicant has fulfilled the prescribed conditions of such election.